I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 36: Investigation Mission (3)

A new breeze swept through the Silverhill estate.

The people were deeply invested in tales of romance—especially when the subject was none other than the lord’s eldest son. 

Naturally, rumors about Serida and Rowan had spread like wildfire.

“Where did that girl Serida come from again?”

“Well, some kingdom or another… I heard she came here to study herbalism.”

“Is she really that pretty?”

“Oh, it goes without saying. She’s way prettier than your daughter.”

“What…? You little—!”

The rumors spiraled, their truth hardly mattered. If they were true, great; if not, so be it. The gossip evolved as it spread, changing bit by bit as it reached new ears.

Soon enough, Serida was believed to be the daughter of a fallen noble family.

“Wow… You’re friends with Lord Rowan, right?”

“He doesn’t even greet most people properly, but I heard they went for a walk together.”

“Guess nobles only hang out with other nobles.”

Envy and jealousy arose only among those who felt they were equals. 

Serida’s overwhelming beauty effortlessly quashed the romantic hopes held by the girls in the estate.

By now, whispers about me were everywhere I went. As I walked, I tucked my hair behind my ear.

It had been five days since I began playing the role of Serida. 

After my initial meeting with Silverhill Rowan, I had started encountering him more often.

I engineered repeated encounters under the guise of coincidence. The number of these meetings increased, and eventually, Rowan began seeking me out first.

Today, I had an appointment with Rowan. He had promised to give me a tour of the estate during a walk. Before arriving at the agreed meeting spot, I adjusted my attire.

My outfit wasn’t particularly special: a wide-brimmed hat to shield me from the sun, a light and airy dress that swayed with the breeze, small sandals that cradled my feet, and a small leather bag slung to the side.

It was my natural appearance that turned the ordinary into something remarkable. Even dressed in rags, my sister’s beauty would shine through. Following Flora’s fashion advice had proved highly effective.

Passersby turned to look at me two or three times as I walked. Laborers carrying heavy loads bumped into walls, spilling their cargo.

Standing at the meeting spot, I waited.

Normally, boys would have approached me with confidence. On the first day, a few had even tried to strike up a conversation. But after I became close with Rowan, they stopped coming near me altogether.

My target, Silverhill Rowan, appeared about five minutes later.

“Serida.”

“Rowan.”

I quickly scanned Rowan’s appearance. His hair seemed to gleam, his face was unusually bright, and his attire was decidedly luxurious.

There was affection in his gaze, a smoldering heat behind his eyes that felt as if it were strangling me. I pushed down the creeping sense of revulsion that rose within me.

“It’s good to see you.”

“Shall we go?”

Rowan extended his hand toward me. I stared blankly at it. He seemed to want me to take his hand, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so.

So, I feigned ignorance.

As I continued to stare at his hand, Rowan awkwardly cleared his throat and withdrew it. To smooth over the embarrassment, he strode forward briskly.

We walked along the path together. Rowan was the first to break the silence, gesturing toward the vast vineyard beyond the town.

“The grapes from Silverhill estate are known for their exceptional sweetness. Have you ever tried wine before?”

“No.”

I had learned from past missions that alcohol dulled both judgment and physical capabilities. I wouldn’t touch a drop during a mission.

“That’s a shame. I’ll bring some fine wine next time. You should try it.”

Most of what Rowan said was information I already knew. Still, I kept it to myself. 

I had been taught that putting my target in a good mood was the key to extracting more information. 

I clapped lightly or laughed softly in response to his words, making sure to humor him.

The lessons I had learned from Azure Wings proved effective. Gradually, Rowan began sharing more personal details. 

Brief mentions of his family life, estate management, and even his thoughts on marriage started to emerge.

“Lately, it’s been quite the headache. My father’s been urging me to settle down, even selecting a list of candidates for me. But…”

“None of them appealed to you?”

“I’d rather marry for love than make a political match. I just want to live freely this time…”

“This time?”

“Oh, I’ve always done whatever my father told me until now.”

I cautiously observed his expressions. The way he subtly brought up marriage suggested he was thoroughly captivated by me. If I asked him now, he’d probably spill all his secrets without hesitation.

I decided to test the waters.

“By the way, I heard you were gravely ill in the past…”

“Oh, that?”

“Yes. I heard you were bedridden all day… What kind of illness was it?”

“Well… No one knows the exact name. Even the priests and doctors who came to examine me couldn’t figure it out.”

“What were the symptoms?”

I immediately pulled out my notebook. Serida, according to my cover story, was a girl researching herbal medicine. Showing interest in illnesses was perfectly natural.

“Hm, the mana in my body became faint, and all my muscles stiffened. My digestive system was affected as well.”

“I see… So how was the illness cured?”

Rumor had it that Silverhill spared no effort to treat Rowan’s illness. Yet, nothing worked—not expensive elixirs, not renowned physicians, not even priests with immense divine power.

And then, one day, Rowan suddenly rose from his sickbed. It was far too suspicious.

“Hmm…”

Rowan trailed off, gazing into the distance. I waited patiently for his response. A gentle breeze swept past, brushing through my hair.

He’s dragging this out too much…

I must not have bridged the distance between us enough. With a small sigh, I leaned slightly against Rowan.

Disgusting…

But it had to be endured. A small sacrifice was inevitable for the mission.

“Uh…!”

Rowan stiffened and awkwardly pulled away. His face was overtaken by an expression of startled embarrassment at the unexpected closeness.

I gazed up at him blankly.

“I, uh, just remembered something urgent. I should get going for now.”

“Oh, alright…”

I nodded. We had already toured most of the estate, and I had been considering suggesting we part ways. This worked out perfectly.

It was a bit disappointing not to hear his answer, but I had time on my side. Rowan wouldn’t be able to forget what happened today.

Not at all.

Saeran, your beauty is terrifying.

I exchanged farewells with Rowan.

“I had a great time today, Rowan.”

“So did I, Serida. Would you be able to spare some time again later?”

“Of course. Just let me know. I can always make time while I’m still working on my herbalism studies.”

“Oh, right, you mentioned you’re here because of that… How long are you planning to stay?”

“Probably until next month.”

Rowan’s expression hardened slightly. After a brief silence, he hurriedly spoke again.

“Well, uh, maybe…”

“Yes?”

Rowan stared at me. He looked like he had something to say but couldn’t quite bring himself to voice it. In the end, he swallowed his words.

“No, never mind. I’ll be going now.”

“Alright~”

After parting ways with Rowan, I returned straight to the inn. There were more places I needed to visit to gather information, but I couldn’t endure any longer.

Locking the door, I immediately began washing up, scrubbing especially hard where Rowan had touched me.

Even after thoroughly cleaning myself, my anger didn’t subside. I struck the pillow on my bed.

Thud!

My small hand struck the pillow so hard it burst, white feathers scattering into the air. Covered in the fluttering feathers, I let out a long sigh.

“Haah…”

When my mind was unsettled, it was better to train. I calmed my emotions by channeling the White Dragon Mind Technique.

A cold energy surged through me, wrapping around my body. Negative emotions dissipated, and my senses grew sharp.

I spread my legs shoulder-width apart and lowered my stance. My clenched right fist rose to shoulder height while my left hand extended below my knee.

The martial arts of the White Frost Tribe were largely inspired by animal movements. 

The swiftness of the Frost Wolf, the subtlety of the White Stoat’s breath, and the majesty of the Snow Bear’s strength informed their techniques.

Whoosh!

A chill spread from my small hand as it shot forward in a straight line. Immediately, I twisted my hand and extended it toward another direction.

Bang!

Among the dispersing white frost, the faint shape of a dragon emerged. The fluid transitions of the techniques came naturally. 

Since the mana properties were similar, the strain on my body was minimal.

If I perfected this, I might even be able to merge the two martial arts into one. 

A smile crept onto my lips at the thought.